Pandoraspace

I failed the Masangin

 

In Jogjakarta, there are two ancient Banyan trees in the middle of a park known as the South Square of the Kraton (Palace of the Sultan). It is believed that one who is able to walk between those two Banyan trees at night while blindfolded will get his wish or receive great fortune. The ritual, if you could call it that, of attempting to walk between those trees at night while blindfolded is called masuk antara dua bering or Masangin, which literally means passing through two ficus trees (Banyan trees are of the ficus benghalensis species).

Danang challenged us to do the Masangin and we took him up on the challenge.

On our last night in Jogjakarta, we trouped to the South Square of the Kraton and attempted to walk blindfolded between the two ancient Banyan trees.

During her first two attempts, LS went around in circles.  Luckily, she was able to make it on her third attempt. Danang made in on his first try but LS and I still think he could see through the blindfold. Despite my six attempts, I failed the Masangin.

While I left the South Square with no assurance I would get my wish or receive great fortune, I had great fun and gained a story to tell.

We were not the only ones attempting the Masangin. There were many others doing the ritual. I noticed that no one attempted Masangin alone. There was always someone accompanying the person attempting the feat. I could hear laughter at each failed attempt, cheering when the task was successfully done and encouragement while the attempt was being made.

Being the strict task-master that he was, Danang did not allow LS or I to coach each other. While the starting point for others was much closer to the Banyan trees, Danang made our starting point at the end of the park. I must say, however, that Danang made sure we did not veer towards the street or bump into others.

Although the street surrounding the South Square of the Kraton and the Banyan tree on the right were well lit, midway into the task, I would always feel this sense of darkness and would even doubt that there were people around me as it became so quite. I felt this on all my six attempts. During those attempts wherein I let myself go, my safety was completely in LS’ and Danang’s hands.  Strangely, on all but one attempt (where I deliberately walked to the left), I would head toward a particular spot in front of the Banyan tree on the right. It was a spot where there was a gaping hole in the concrete fence around the tree.  According to LS, I would always walk straight, then, midway, I would turn to the right and walk toward the gaping hole. Danang thought it was eerie but I felt no fear or sensed no evil.

The next time I am in Jogjakarta, I want to successfully pass between the two ancient Banyan trees even if I have to keep trying the whole night!  Failing the Masangin has given me a reason to go back to Jogjakarta.

 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 12th, 2009 at 12:08 am and is filed under My Indonesian Experience. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.